Ed Miliband opens the door to more drilling in North Sea despite previously branding plans 'climate vandalism'
Ed Miliband has opened the door to more drilling in the North Sea despite previously branding projects 'climate vandalism'.
The government has issued new guidance that will allow applications to be resubmitted for the Rosebank oil field and Jackdaw gas field.
However, environmental groups are still urging the Net Zero Secretary to reject the schemes.
The move comes after the Court of Session in Edinburgh upheld a legal challenge to the projects in January, ruling that processes had not been followed in granting consent.
The UK Government and North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) were found to have acted unlawfully by not taking into account emissions resulting from the burning of the extracted fuels.
The Tories were in power when clearance was given for Shell's proposals to develop the Jackdaw field in 2022, and Equinor and Ithaca Energy's Rosebank plans in September 2023.
In the judgement, Lord Ericht said the consent should be 'reduced' - quashed - and reconsidered.
Mr Miliband's Department for Net Zero has now issued guidance on how the environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling should be assessed.
That is expected to see the projects revived - despite Mr Miliband pledging not to approve any new licences in the North Sea basin. He previously described the Rosebank plans as 'climate vandalism'.
Mr Miliband will assess the environmental project's environmental impact, while 'taking into account and balancing relevant factors on a case-by-case basis - such as the potential economic impact and other implications of the project'.
No decisions are expected to be made under the new guidance until Autumn at the earliest.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: 'This new guidance offers clarity on the way forward for the North Sea oil and gas industry, following last year's Supreme Court ruling.
'It marks a step forward in ensuring the full implications of oil and gas extraction are considered for potential projects and that we ensure a managed, prosperous, and orderly transition to the North Sea's clean energy future, in line with the science.
'We are working with industry, trade unions, local communities and environmental groups to ensure the North Sea and its workers are at the heart of Britain's clean energy future for decades to come – supporting well-paid, skilled jobs, driving growth and boosting our energy security.'
Labour's attitude has been in stark contrast to the US, where new president Donald Trump has been vowing a 'drill baby drill' policy to exploit natural resources.
Tessa Khan, executive director of Uplift, said: 'The new rules mean that oil and gas companies will finally be forced to come clean over the enormous harm they are causing to the climate.'
She argued Rosebank would not lower fuel bills or boost energy independence as most of the oil would be exported, and tax breaks would mean the public would cover most of the costs of development.
She also said the extreme weather the UK is experiencing 'must be a wake-up call for this Government to stand up to the oil and gas firms'.
Greenpeace UK head of climate Mel Evans said: 'It's only right for the Government to take into account the emissions from burning oil and gas when deciding whether to approve fossil fuel projects currently pending.
'Since Rosebank and other drilling sites will pump out a lot of carbon while providing little benefit to the economy and no help to bill payers, they should fail the criteria ministers have just set out.
She said approving the projects would be a 'political sleight of hand' that would benefit oil giants while leaving the UK hooked on fossil fuels.
'Real energy security and future-proofed jobs for energy workers can only come through homegrown, cheap renewable energy, and that's what ministers should focus on,' she urged.
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